The most fun handheld racer ever gets a 360 overhaul and loses nothing in translation.
Anyone who’s played a Ridge Racer game before (and particularly anyone who played the PSP version) will know the key to racing in this game is all about drifting around corners (which builds up your nitro gauge) as opposed to ever slamming on the breaks. This actually makes the game feel unique when compared to pretty much all racing games (bar the brilliant semi-racer that is outrun 2) and also makes it one of the most enjoyable you’ll ever play, and that’s the best thing about this game, it’s fun, really really fun.
One of the things I would always tell people about Ridge Racer on the PSP was how it was a racing game that was just so damn enjoyable that even people who don’t normally like racing games would probably have a blast. The same goes for Ridge Racer 6, and in fact that statement is even more true here. When choosing the world tour mode (the main chunk of the game) you must first complete 111 beginner races before you can complete in the much harder classes. Now for the Ridge Racer expert this is actually a negative point, as most of these racers contain barley any challenge what so ever, but as I’ve stated its also a plus as Ridge Racer 6 is just so accessible for all gamers, not just racing fanatics.
Racing fanatics will be happy to know though that there are quite literally hundreds more harder races to enter once the easier ones are completed and while the learning curve does perhaps start off slightly too shallow, it soon becomes pretty much perfect. The game also features much more variety than the PSP game, here having races that have specific rules that you must abide by, such as ones where you can’t use your nitro’s, or events where you can only fill your nitrous gage if you drift while using a nitrous charge.
Once you think you are good enough at, or have even completed the gigantic single player game, you can then take it on to Xbox live and try your luck against the world (well, the 20 or so people who are usually playing the game online at any given time). When you CAN find a game, online play is generally smooth and lag free, and because one of the few negative points about the single player game is that the A.I. isn’t exactly aggressive and seems to be on auto pilot at all times, it is nice to race against opponents that seem to have a brain.
The Xbox360 already has quite a few great racing games, but for me Ridge Racer is the pick of the bunch, its just so fun, and fast and completely defines what an arcade racer should be about. Add to that the fact that its truly a massive game, looks great, has your typically classy Ridge Racer soundtrack and even comes with Pac-Man as a mini game. So come on... What more could you want from the newest version of Namco’s flagship racing title?.
The good stuff:-
World Tour mode is absolutely huge.
Moves real fast.
Great online.
Slick and accessible
The Bad Stuff:-
Starts off too easy.
Boring A.I.
Very annoying announcer voice.
May be a bit too much like the PSP game for some.